Mobile number portability

The claims and counter claims by network operators on which one has the best network quality will all be put to rest when MNP is implemented to give the subscriber the power to decide which network is best. MNP is a system that allows a customer to keep his number, including the network prefix, when changing from one network operator to another. MNP was cumbersome and costly because of the length of time to execute porting, frequency of porting and cost of porting to customers.

Everybody might have seen the new ad from Idea telecom....where Abhishek bachchan tells users when they say why they are being charged so much and various other reasons, and when people tell no idea...he goes on saying "get Idea", telling mobile number portability coming soon

MNP, that allows subscribers to retain their mobile number even after changing service providers, will undoubtedly improve the QoS (Quality of service). In just 16 years, after mobile phone services were launched in India, the growth of new mobile connections has been setting a new record every month. Customers, initially elated with declining tariff plans, did not realize that the pressure for margins would lead to difficulties like poor voice quality, frequent call drops or no-signal zones even in the densely populated metros. The sudden spurt in the number of mobile subscribers - from 76 million in December 2005 to over 670 million today - too accentuated issues like poor customer care and inappropriate tariff plans. And now with MNP, anybody can easily change the service provider if the current service provider is not doing good. So, to not loose out on the customer base the service will be improved from the current service providers.

Yes ,will be a deterrent on the service provider part to give the high level services to the customer ,but a customer can never be satisfied,it will end up customer hopping from one service provider to another ,and thus realizing that the prior one was better!

Advantages
Mobile subscribers would be able to switch service provider while retaining their existing mobile number.

1.

2. Just for a small fee of Provider) 3.

19/- you can change to a new subscriber (Mobile Service

You can switch from GSM to CDMA and vice versa.

Benefits of Mobile Number Portability (MNP):

You can shift your old mobile service provider to new better mobile service portability, keeping your mobile number unchanged. Thus, you need not to inform your friends and relatives about any change in your number. This is of great benefit to businessmen and professionals where they may have to suffer losses due to change in mobile number. The porting transaction charge is very low, just Rs. 19. Thus it is quite affordable. The formalities involved in MNP are quite nominal. You have to just send a SMS followed by the filling up of customer application form for MNP. The mobile gets dead for a maximum of 2 hours before porting to a new mobile operator. But this range of 2 hours will be in the time range of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., thus minimizing the risk of any loss to the subscriber to the bottom most level. The whole process of switching mobile operators will take of maximum number of seven days only. A spirit of competition will run in telecom operators to provide quality service to the people at cheapest rates. This will provide huge benefit to the subscribers. There are approximately 700 million mobile users countrywide with about 10 operators in each circle. Thus MNP is going to prove a great benefit to them. Service providers are planning to offer some introductory attractive tariff plans to lure the subscribers is that they switch to them. Value added services at high speed may also be offered to the new customers. New mobile service providers will have to do efforts to establish their feet in the market. They can shine their self just by offering attractive tariff plans with quality service to their customers.

Negative impacts of MNP :

Undoubtedly, MNP is going to be proven a big part of mobile revolution in India. But it is also going to bring higher marketing expenses for mobile operators followed by lower profits. In present time, mobile phone and Sim card are important tools during any criminal investigation. This helps police in investigating the owner of Sim card (who can be criminal). MNP could be a headache to police department because the criminals can misuse the portability duration of 90 days. In India, 80% of mobile users are prepaid mobile users. A thorny disadvantage of MNP is that you lose all your remaining balance in your prepaid account on porting to new number. Another aspect of mobile number portability is that it may prove to be insignificant in India as churn rate in India is already very high. Mobile users are very accustomed to switch to other operator and change their mobile number. So subscribers many not bother to go through the formalities of MNP. Use of multi Sim mobile handsets may also contribute in this reason. However, still the chances of this impact are very low

MNP will safeguard the interest of subscribers in case new operators' licences are cancelled for missing launch obligations or if the service providers were ineligible to bag start-up spectrum in the first place. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued 119 showcause notices to various firms in connection with missing the deadline for the launch of 2G services and alleged suppression of information while applying for the licences.

The disadvantages are as follows 1. The service if changed from two different technologies viz. from CDMA to GSM or vice verse, then it will require to change the handsets. Changing handsets Means Expense overhead. 2. Again for changing the service as was expected by just a Sms is completely wrong. the user has still to visit the service provider outlet and i which i think is the most boredom task. 3. On switching ,the remaing funds are not transferred and hence either the user has to finish it unnecessarily or has to wait till it get exhausted.And interestingly more than 80% of mobile connections are prepaid. 4. There will be a higher marketing expenses for the operators with just a very little or no extra profit. 5. As already multi Sim mobile are in the market with a very cheap price so switching to another service providers for few extra service will not be feasible to Indian users. 6. Again if a user switches to interested service providers and if he find that the service provider is not providing good service as expected or not up to his mark then he would have to wait for at least 90 days to switch it again. waiting 90 days is much more tedious than buying another Sim card. 7. The major disadvantage is the switching should be within circle. The user is still not allowed to switch within different states. 8. By switching from frustrated from a single service would make the user away from other better services. 9. Despite the number remains the same ,the user finds problems in understanding the operating system,value added services,calling cards and settings of the new provider.

10. In order to avail this facility it requires many clerical formalities. 11. As a customer this facility should be free but TRAI has already charged INR 19. 12. By availing facility the user losses its number identity associated with particular operator. NOW this will prevent predicting from where a subscriber avails hi Mobile service.Due to this criminal investigations also become complex and time consuming. 13. The porting period is very long and during that time the mobile might stop functioning and also it is not fixed till how long. 14. As from operators side this will install a tough competition between operators. 15. As after porting the cal routing mechanism is very complex there will be a lot of complaint about call drop and the call will be prone to get hacked.